Large cross procession held in Cherkasy Eparchy
Religious procession in the Cherkasy Eparchy. Photo: Cherkasy_Blagovestnyk
On July 6, 2025, the feast of the Vladimir Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos, a solemn religious procession took place in the village of Holovkivka, Chyhyryn District, Cherkasy Region, gathering a large number of faithful.
After the concelebrated hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Apostle John the Theologian, led by Metropolitan Theodosiy of Cherkasy and Kaniv with clergy of the eparchy, a prayerful procession began with the especially venerated Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God.
The procession circled the village in prayer. At designated stops, clergy read passages from the Holy Gospel, and the faithful knelt so that the icon could be carried over their heads as a sign of special blessing and the protection of the Most Pure Mother of God. This ancient pious tradition symbolizes humility before God, prayer for protection and healing, and the unity of the people in faith.
During the procession, the faithful fervently prayed to the Mother of God for the protection of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, for an end to persecution, for the healing of the sick, and for the spiritual renewal of the Ukrainian people.
At the conclusion of the procession, Metropolitan Theodosiy addressed those gathered with an archpastoral message and bestowed his blessing on all participants.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that 5,000 faithful had taken part in a procession from Chernivtsi to Kreshchatyk.
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